Asia-Pacific sits out global March for Science

Scientists and civilians across the world took to the streets on Earth Day this year to march for science and protest against climate change denial. But where were the Asian voices?

A man protesting as part of the March for Science in San Francisco, California is grateful for the Large Hadron Collider, the world's largest and most powerful particle accelerator. Image: Matthew Roth, CC BY-NC 2.0

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When scientists joined non-scientists on Earth Day (April 22) to march for science and against climate change, the vulnerable Asia-Pacific region, and much of the developing world, were conspicuously missing.

The nerve centres for the march were Washington, London and Paris, but media reported smaller satellite marches in 600 or more cities all over the world on the same day.

That tens of thousands of scientists from hundreds of cities, empowered by social media, came together with non-scientists even for a day was an achievement.

Scientists “are not famous for their camaraderie”, a professor of carbon management at the University of Edinburgh, David Reay, has said. “We are trained to question, criticise and, where needed, contest each other’s work.”

Unfortunately, the march happened mostly in the West and hardly a word was heard from Asia-Pacific and the developing world in general. There was a sense that the march was driven by politics—to which scientists are known to be allergic.

But, the first global March for Science had two non-political objectives: to defend science and to defend the earth against the threat of climate change and its deniers.

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Scientists are not famous for their camaraderie, we are trained to question, criticise and, where needed, contest each other’s work.

David Reay, University of Edinburgh

For scientists concerned about the threat of climate change mainly, this first worldwide march for science was rather timely, happening soon after the Paris Climate Change Agreement came into force in 2016. The Paris Agreement’s central aim is to keep global temperature rise this century well below 2 degrees Celsius, and as low as 1.5 degrees Celsius. The march gives needed impetus to push the accord forward.

At the same time, the marchers staunchly defended science against the threat of “alternative facts” as they brandished placards that shouted: “Stop the assault on facts! Down with alternative facts! Keep our science great! Tell taxpayers why science matters!”

The beginnings of the movement were apparently triggered by “that guy over there” in the White House. According to the placards, it happened when US President Trump’s blueprint budget proposed to cut $12.6 billion from the Department of Health and Human Services.

Asian scientists missing

We therefore note with dismay that Asian world scientists were not more prominent in this March for Science. Except for Tokyo, Seoul and Manila, not a peep. The giant economies of China, India and Indonesia were conspicuous by their absence.

The 10 member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), having a summit meeting in Manila (April 29) at the time of the march, were nowhere to be heard. In Manila, there was just a small demonstration and a public statement on the website by 350.org Philippines, with calls for phasing out of fossil fuel use and a shift to renewable energy by Agham Youth and activists.

But, we hope this march has broken the ice and will not be one and done. We have argued in this column many times in the past that Asian and developing world scientists should come out of their laboratories and speak out their minds on issues of the day. They certainly are more knowledgeable on science issues and their impact on society.

Scientists could consider several courses of action. For instance, engage in politics like in the Philippines when they recently formed a political party and got elected to Congress (although they lost the following election). This will ensure that laws passed by Congress are evidence-based.

Scientists could lobby to provide more advice to the courts on scientific issues and avoid a repeat of a recent Philippine Supreme Court decision to permanently ban the field testing of genetically modified eggplant, a decision which a Philippine national scientist called “quaint.”

The probably 10,000 prominent and potentially influential scientists who are members of some 50 national academies of science and technology in the Asia-Pacific region can make their voices heard.

These eminent citizens of the developing world should go out to the streets figuratively, give lectures on the role of science in society and fight for bigger government budgets for science.

We urge that the United Nations proclaim a month for science each year—March—and call it March for Science. Earth Day, April 22, should focus on the environment.

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